The Rev. Nelson K. Malkus entered his eternal reward last evening, April 10, at the Quarryville Presbyterian Retirement Community in Quarryville, Pa. He was 96 years old.
Malkus was born in Trenton, N.J., Feb. 28, 1916, to Jacob and Addie (Kellum) Malkus. Raised in the Trenton area, he later attended Drexel University in Philadelphia, the Philadelphia Biblical University (formerly Philadelphia College of the Bible), and Columbia Bible College, graduating there in 1945 with a bachelor’s degree. He took his preparation for the ministry at Faith Theological Seminary, graduating in 1948 and was both licensed and ordained in June of 1948 by the New Jersey Presbytery of the Bible Presbyterian Church.
Malkus was first called to serve as a missionary in Mexico, 1948-1951, then more remotely to the Philippines, 1951-1952. Leaving the foreign mission field, he pastored churches in Texas, Nebraska, and Washington before taking a three-year term with National Presbyterian Missions, 1970-1973. He is perhaps best remembered for his long term of service as the executive director of World Presbyterian Missions (RPCES) from 1973 up until the Joining and Receiving in 1982. After the J&R, he transitioned to a post as an associate coordinator with Mission to the World, 1982-1984.
At the age of 70, when most men retire, Malkus took up a post as chaplain at the Quarryville Presbyterian Retirement Community and ministered in that capacity from 1986 until 1991. At the age of 75, he was officially registered as honorably retired. But that was just on paper, for he immediately turned to serve as associate pastor at the Westminster Presbyterian Church in Lancaster, Pa., 1998-1999, then again as an interim chaplain at Quarryville, 1999-2000.Malkus took up his last pastorate at the age of 84 and again served as associate pastor at the Westminster church of Lancaster from 2000 to 2002.